Chapter 26 #2
"Also, you said that during the two years you were with Lucas, you maintained a sexual relationship, that you had sex everywhere—the office, hotel rooms on business trips.
" Ella's tone stayed calm. "You described the details in graphic detail.
When you said all that, did you think you were just doing your job? "
My blood froze in that instant.
Vivian had said those things to Ella? Those disgusting lies, that deliberate humiliation?
I looked at Vivian. Her lips trembled, face flushed red, like she'd been stripped naked in public.
"I..." She opened her mouth. "I was just..."
I stood abruptly, chair sliding back a meter.
"You actually said that shit?"
I stared at Vivian, seeing stars. "What else did you say to Ella?"
Vivian's face had turned from red to sickly pale. She backed up, hitting the bookshelf.
"I...I was protecting the company." She weakly defended. "I didn't want you dragged down by false emotions..."
"That's my marriage! Not your business to interfere with! And you're a liar. I never did anything with you. Why the hell are you making shit up?" My fists cracked.
I'd never hit a woman, but in that moment, I nearly broke that rule.
"Yes, I did it, so what?" Vivian was like a cornered animal, eyes flashing with viciousness.
"If your relationship wasn't already broken, how could a few words from me work?
The fact that I succeeded proves she's not fit to be your wife.
I dealt with the mess Mr. Rockefeller left you. You should thank me!"
"So, Vivian, you're admitting you've been lying all along, right?" Ella's voice was terrifyingly calm, enunciating each word. "So this time when Lucas came back to Manhattan, you saw him drunk and wanted to pull the same trick. Thought you could send me some bedroom photos and break us up again."
Vivian stared at Ella on the screen, hatred burning in her eyes. I couldn't understand where such intense emotion came from. They'd barely met twice.
"You already left, why did you have to take him too, why?"
Vivian screamed hysterically. She'd torn off the mask, going for total destruction.
"But you know where you messed up this time?" Ella laughed coldly. "You thought I'd just run away like before. You thought I was still that woman who'd crumble at a few words from you."
She paused.
"But I'm not anymore." She said. "I'm carrying Lucas's child now. I'm this baby's mother. I won't be weak like before. So this time, I choose to believe Lucas. I choose to stand by him."
Something caught in my throat.
Vivian deflated completely. That superior elite posture was torn to shreds by Ella in that moment.
"You're pregnant..." She slowly sank to the floor. "You went to Rochester for the pregnancy?"
I didn't look at her again. I pressed the intercom and called the HR director.
"Immediately revoke all of Vivian's access to the building.
She's fired, effective immediately. Reason: unprofessional conduct and malicious invasion of executive privacy.
Settle her salary at minimum contract standards.
I don't want to see her in this building in ten minutes.
Also, get Legal up here. I'm suing her for illegal intrusion and defamation. "
"Lucas! You can't be this cruel!" Vivian shrieked, trying to grab my collar, but I dodged with disgust. "I did so much for you! And you're firing me for that woman!"
"Last time I sent that company-wide email, I said not to test my limits." I looked at her coldly. "You obviously didn't take it seriously. You brought this on yourself."
Two security guards in black suits burst through the door. As they dragged Vivian out, she finally lost it completely. She struggled, sharp nails scraping the wooden floor with a piercing sound.
"Why! What's so special about Ella? She hasn't done anything. Why does she get everything I want so easily!" Her screams echoed in the hallway until the elevator doors closed.
The office fell silent.
I picked up my phone again, looking at Ella on the screen. My heart still raced with aftershock fear. Looking at her, that feeling of getting back what I'd lost made my eyes sting.
"Ella," my voice shook slightly, "it's my fault for treating you badly before, otherwise Vivian wouldn't have had an opening..."
"Let the past stay in the past." Ella nodded gently on the screen. She looked at me, exhaustion finally showing in her eyes. "Lucas, I shouldn't have doubted you either. If I'd trusted you more, we wouldn't have had such a huge conflict."
My heart finally settled back where it belonged. In that moment, I finally understood that everything I'd given up—the career, the power—meant nothing compared to the trust Ella was giving me.
We looked at each other across the screen. Her hand rested on her slightly swollen belly, where our child grew.
"One more day," I said. "After tomorrow, I'm coming home."
"I'll be waiting." She answered gently.
After hanging up, I leaned back in my chair and let out a long breath.
Outside the window, Manhattan still blazed with traffic and neon. But I didn't belong here anymore. I belonged with Ella. Wherever she was—that was home.
This time, I wouldn't leave her again.